Christmas Means God Sent Salvation - 12/22/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

Christmas Means God Sent Salvation

When you put together the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah the only person who could ever fulfill them all is Jesus Christ – out of trillions of beings who ever existed, only Jesus fulfills them all!

In the gospels we then find the breathtaking material about the first Christmas when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!” The eternal Creator (John 1:1-3) became part of His creation to redeem us.

One thing we don’t cover as much at Christmas time is what the Apostles’ letters tell us about Christmas in the decades after Jesus came. This morning we will look at Christmas according to the Apostle Paul.

Galatians 4:1-7

Verses 1-3 show our need as sinners. Israel was under the Law of Moses the way a child was under their guardian’s authority. The rest of us as Gentiles were under the moral law God put within us (Romans 1). Both laws convicted us all as guilty sinners before God who needed saving.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” -Ephesians 2:1

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23

Jesus came at just the right time!

One advantage to Jesus being born when He was is that the world was still under 1 billion people. As the world grew in population, the influence of the gospel grew with it.

Jesus came with just the right motivation!

Two of the sweetest words in the English language have to be “God sent!” The concept that God the Father sent God the Son to earth occur at least 47 times in the New Testament reminding us of the best Christmas gift!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not SEND His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. -John 3:16-17

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By SENDING His own Son in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. -Romans 8:3-4a

And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. -John 17:3

Jesus Christ came in just the right way!

Sin came into the world through the first woman and the first Adam. Now salvation came into the world through a young virgin woman and this “Second Adam.” Jesus was born without sin and never sinned so He could save us from our sins.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” -Genesis 3:15

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. -1 Tim. 3:16

Jesus came to buy the most expensive gift!

The Law of Moses let Israel know what God expected of them to bring Him the glory He deserves. It also revealed how Israel sinned and failed to bring Him that glory. According to Romans 1-3, the internal moral law does the same for Gentiles.

I am not okay, and you are not okay – we are blaspheming liars, worshipers of idols, filled with disrespect for authority, consumed with lust, theft, and coveting – and God would be right to send judgment – Instead He sent Jesus to save us!

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! -2 Cor. 9:15

Those who receive Jesus receive more gifts as well!

When you receive Jesus you receive the gift of adoption into God’s family!

When you receive Jesus you receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.

When you receive Jesus, you now have relationship with God the Father.

When you receive Jesus, you have a heavenly inheritance coming!